Tom, Allison and I were back in Baltimore after traveling to Western Michigan for Homecoming weekend with Scott. I picked up Cookie from our friends on Monday. She had spent the weekend with our friends while we visited with Scott in Michigan. Tom had a flight out to Scotland for work on Monday morning. He was going to come home at the end of the week, however, we had Tropical Storm Michael headed our way after slamming into the panhandle of Florida as a Hurricane. The weather was expected to change in our area on Thursday to Friday at the end of the week. So Tom decided to stay over the weekend and avoid any flight delays. Good thing he did since we had strong winds and rain come through overnight. And he enjoyed his free time-trying different beer at different taverns and catching the "Venom" movie. Fortunately, here at home, no trees down or loss of power. Not so good for those living right on the coast in the Florida panhandle. A neighbor requested books for a friend's 9 year old autistic daughter living in the Florida area since she lost her collection. I gathered some of Allison's old books to donate. Altogether, our neighborhood collected 170 books to send to Florida! I think this young girl could open her own library!
Speaking of libraries, my younger brother Mike is busy searching and interviewing for library positions, primarily in California since he owns a condo near LA. He was laid off after reorganization of the library system this summer and is currently looking for a new position, either in LA or possibly San Diego. He even tossed around the idea of moving to Florida, maybe even moving into the Bozyk house in Nokomis. However, the Florida house probably would benefit from a knock down/rebuild-an expensive and lengthy project. And Hurricanes like Michael are not a big motivating factor to move to those areas. (Although I think it may be fate since the names match!). I'd still take hurricanes over earthquakes! So no plans on that move, but never say never! Good luck on you job hunting Mike.
I have also been busy job hunting here in Maryland for a new flexible OT position. I have not yet heard back from my previous facility for on call work. I decided on call work would fit my schedule better, so I started to interview with several facilities -mostly skilled nursing facilities. So far I have just been spending my time interviewing, then filling out paperwork-both online and paper/pencil, dropping off paperwork, visiting medical clinics for drug testing and physicals. But so far, no actual work. So I also decided to look into a part time Home Health position that popped up-providing OT services to patients in Assisted Living Facilities. I finally got in contact with the Human Resources staff to discuss the job, but am now waiting on another phone interview with the office manager. I am amazed at how long these interview processes are taking! So is Tom. We both agreed that I probably did not have to go back to a full time position, especially since I lost all my vacation and sick time from my previous job. But we decided the extra income is handy, especially for our entertainment and travel expenses. We both did not realize just how long the onboarding process was going to take. Usually I have taken jobs in larger facilities, or full time jobs that seem to move the process along more efficiently. Although, my last job took about a month before my start date. I actually have more job offers than I know what to do with, but mostly full time positions, or contract/travel companies that move you around every 3 months. I really prefer to limit the number of facilities I work in as well as making longer lasting relationships with the staff and less travel. So I have to keep from applying to multiple jobs, especially since I have already committed to several positions. Just not working! So as I tell Tom, I am employed, just not working! The health care field seems to be either feast or famine -there won't be any significant work, and then your'e swamped with a work schedule. It would be nice to have some work, but not too much as the holidays are coming up!
It is nice having a flexible schedule in order to run errands, visit with my mom, get work done around the house and travel. Although I think the housework and yardwork is killing me! I've already smashed my toe when I dropped a large heavy thermos on my foot from a kitchen cupboard. And I love doing yardwork, but cutting the grass, trimming bushes, digging plants and edging the lawn is taking its toll on my back and shoulders! I am just glad I got all my yardwork done for the most part since the weather switched from summer to winter over the weekend! I finally turned off the A/C, but Allison and I spent the weekend shivering since the furnace and fireplace need to be cleaned before turning them on. And Tom was away in Scotland! That was a job I did not necessarily want to take on.
There were several outdoor events going on over the weekend, but it just seemed a bit too cold to sit out all day. The Maryland Wine Festival was rescheduled for this weekend which looked fun, but not to sit outside all day in the cold, drinking cold wine. They had to reschedule the event when Hurricane Florence was expected to move through last month. Maybe next year. I decided to schedule an indoor activity with a previous coworker from my last nursing home job. Anne, a PT assistant, picked up a full time position in a smaller nursing home near our previous work setting. They are also looking for on call therapists, so I decided to apply to that position, mainly so I could see some of the old staff I used to work with in the last facility. I wanted some time to chat to Anne about the facility and the rehab department, plus ask her to put in a good word for me. So we had lunch together in a new restaurant in western Howard county since Anne had a birthday coupon to use! Afterwards, we decided to attend a Decorator Show House event in an historic victorian farmhouse nearby. Wilderness Farm was built in 1907 in the "wilds" of Howard County on 450 acres. Both families in the household were active in the Revolutionary War. The husband, Joshua Warfield was a Maryland State Senator and lawyer. He was known as a gentleman farmer. He and his wife did not have any children, so when Joshua passed away, his wife requested their nephew and his family to farm the property for her while building his own house next to hers. Mary, the wife lived out her life in the house, even had her funeral in the front entry way when she passed away in 1972 and the house was sold to another family that raised their own children at the historic farm. Currently, the house and 5 acres of land is up for sale. We toured the interior of the house where each room was decorated with sale items from multiple interior decorators. Everything was for sale, including furniture, rugs and artwork in each room and some of the pieces were even from the original home design, like paintings and furniture. Most of the artwork for sale was from local Maryland artists, and all proceeds for sales and admission to the house went to assist in the rebuilding/revamping of Olde Ellicott City after the May flood. The house had an amazing design with octagon shaped rooms, beautiful views of the local farmland and multiple levels to explore. There was even a baby grand piano in the front foyer where the nieces took music lessons from a Baltimore Peabody academy instructor in the 1950s. Anne and I enjoyed our tour and picked up a few art items-I nabbed another Ellicott City print to go with a small picture Tom got for me during the previous flood fundraiser, and Anne found a gorgeous amethyst Polish glass vase at the antique booth they set up in an old barn on the property. It was a very nice way to spend a Saturday, and very interesting to learn more of our state's history. Who knew this place was basically in our own backyard!
Allison decided to pass on our outing. Instead, she dressed Cookie in her viking hat and attended the Mt Hebron high school parade through our neighborhood Saturday morning. Allison came home with a handful of candy and Cookie got her walk in! On Sunday, Allison was hoping we could visit the Maryland zoo, but I had my first Girl Scout choir rehearsal that afternoon. It took up most of the afternoon-3 hrs! I had planned on picking up my mom for dinner at our house, but by the time I arrived at her place, she had already eaten dinner. So I spent some time visiting and dropped off some Halloween/Fall decorations for mom's room.
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